Photographic-printing apparatus.



M. WELSH. PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION F|LD1uu25.1915.

Patented J une 13, 1916.

l Il

Witnesses 'me oLumalA PLANQGRAPH co., wAsmNm-ON, n. c.

, Inventor,-

m by

Attorneys.

M. WELSH.

PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION insomnies. 191s.

1,1 86,719. Patented 11111613, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

f7 IKZ :i144 fw/zg. WM

Witnesses Inventor) Attorneys,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MONTE WELSH, 0F SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS.

PHOTOGRAPHIC-PRINTING APPARATUS.

Application filed .Tune 25, 1915.

'T0 all whom 'it may concern.'

Be it known that I, MONTE WELSH, a citizen of the United States,residing at San Antonio, in the county of Bexar and State of Texas, haveinvented a new and useful Photographic-Printing Apparatus, of which thefollowing is a specification.

The present invention appertains to photographic printing apparatus, andaims to provide a novel and improved appliance for printing photographsor positives from negatives, either film or plate.

It is the object of the invention to provide a photographic printingapparatus comprising a unique assemblage of the component parts, andimproved generally in its details, whereby the utility and efficiency ofthe appliance is enhanced, the apparatus in corporating novelinstrumentalities Vwhich render the printing operation easy andeiicient.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention resides in the combination andarrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafterdescribed and claimed, it being understood that changes in the preciseembodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within thescope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, whereinFigure 1 is a plan view of the apparatus, the electrical circuit beingillustrated diagrammatically. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of theapparatus. Fig. 3 is an end view of the apparatus. Figs. 4 and 5 arevertical sections of the negative holder taken on the lines 4 4 and 5 5,respectively, of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a horizontal section of the negativeholder taken on the line 66 of Fig. 2. Fig. 7 is an edge elevation ofthe presser block for holding the sensitized paper or sheet, portionsbeing broken away. 'Fig 8 is a lower edge view of the presser block.Fig. 9 is a sectional detail of a means for mounting the presser block,the section being taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 2.

The apparatus is carried by a suitable base 1, which is equipped betweenits ends with an upstanding negative holder 2 having the opening 3adjacent its upper end for the passage of the light rays through thenega- Speccation of Letters Patent.

Patented June 13, 1916.

Serial No. 36,319.

tive. A transparent panel 4 of glass or equivalent material is securedto the front side of the holder 2 so as to extend across the opening 3,detachable clips 5 being carried by the front sides of the holder 2which overlaps the panel 4 and hold it removably in position.

As'a means for holding a film negative across the opening 3 and panel 4,upwardly projecting resilient strips 6 have their lower end portionssecured to the front side of the holder 2 adjacent the edges of the saidholder, the front side of the holder being provided adjacent its sideedges with vertical grooves 7 receiving the rear curved sides of thestrips 6. The strips 6 are arranged at the side edges of the panel 4. Asecond pair of upwardly projecting resilient :strips 8 rest against andhave their lower ends secured to the strips 6, and have their upper endportions or terminals free and tending to swing against the upperterminals of the strips 6. The strips 6 and 8 form a combined mask andfilm holder. A pair of bolts or spindles 9 are engaged slidably throughthe strips 6 and the holder 2 below the opening 3, and have heads 10seating against the strips. Nuts 11 are threaded upon the rear ends ofthe bolts 9, and coiled wire expansion springs 12 are disposed betweenthe holder 2 and nuts 11, whereby the springs 12 tend to move the strips6 against the holder 2. The nuts 11 may be adjusted for regulating thetension of the springs 12.

Various masks may be used upon the holder 2. Thus, a mask 13, preferablyconstructed of thin sheet metal, may be inserted downwardly between theupper terminals of the strips 6 and 8, as seen in Fig. 5, so as to beclamped between said strips, across the opening 3 and panel 4,

and the mask 13 is provided with a forwardly offset portion 14 providinga socket for receiving a glass or lplate negative.

'This portion 14 has an opening 15 of rethe eut film negative and havingthe opening 15. The mask 13 is seen in Figs. 2, Il and 6. rfhe masksbeing of metal will not fray, and form an even border. The masks may bereadily replaced by one another, and any number of masks may be employedinterchangeably. Y

lVhen a film negative 1G is employed, the same is slipped downwardlybetween the strips 6 and holder 2, so that the strips 6 will hold thenegative 16 against the panel t within the grooves 7, to prevent the.displacement of the negative during the printing operation. llllhen acut film is employed, it is supported within the mask 13 by a resilientstrip 17 having the bent back terminals 18 adapted to be snapped aroundthe side edges of the holder 2 at the lower edge of the opening 13,whereby the'intermediate port-ion of the strip 17 bears against thepanel t and the holder 2 immediately under the lower edge of the mask13, to prevent the cut film from dropping downwardly out of the offsetor socket portion 1l of the mask.

The holder for the sensitized paper or sheet. embodies a leaf or plate19 having its lower end hinged upon the base 1 immediately in front ofthe holder 2, and a second leaf or plate 2O has its lower end hinged tothe upper free end of the leaf 19. The leaf 19 projects np vardly to apoint adjacentthe opening 3, while the leaf 2O is adapted to be swungupwardly against the mask to coincide with the opening 3. The leaf 2Ocarries a presser block or head 21 provided with means for gripping orholding the sensitized paper, and this presser bloclv 21 is mounted uponand carried by a yieldalily mounted plate 22 having a plurality of stemsprojecting therefrom and working slidably through the leaf' 20. Nuts orstops 2l are threaded npon the stems and seat against the leaf 2O atthat side of said leaf opposite the presser block 21, to limit themovement of the presser block away from the leaf 20, and coiled wire eX-pansion springs are disposed upon the stems Q8 between the presser block21 and leaf 2O for yieldably moving the presser block away from saidleaf and toward the negative holder The upper and lower edges of theplate 22 are provided with guides 26 for receiving the flanges 27 withwhich the presser block 21 is provided, whereby the presser block 21 maybe slid laterally or sidewise into and out of engagement with the plate22. This allows the presser block to be readily removed and replaced.The guides Q6 are each provided at one end with an inturned ear or stop28 for limiting the movement of the flanges 2T when the presser block 21is slid into proper position, and a spring catch 29 is carried by one ofthe guides 26 for snapping into engagement with the respective flange 27for holding the presser block removably in position, since the catch Q9'may be manually released when it is desired to remove the block 21.

The means for moving or swinging the leaf 2O and presser block carriedthereby embodies a rock shaft 30 journaled within suitable bearings 31carried by the base 1, the inner end of the shaft 30 being provided witha crank arm 32 connected by means of a link 33 with the leaf 20. Theother end of the shaft 30 has a crank arm 3l, to the free end of whichis pivotally engaged a handle or lever S5. The handle or lever 35 isengaged between its ends to the arm 34. and the rear end or short arm ofthe handle or lever 35 is connected by a link or hinge leaf 36 with thebase 1 in rear of the. shaft 3l). lllhen the handle 35 'is raised, toraise the arin- 3l, the arm 32 which is arranged at an angle with thearm 3l, is swung downwardly onto the base 1, to pull the link 53 and theleaf 20 downwardly to inoperative position, as seen in full lines inFig. 2. lllhen the handle 85 is forced rearwardly and downwardly, tocorrespondingly move the arm 3l, the arm 32 will be swung upwardly andrearwardly to correspondingly swing the leaf 2O and presser block 21.the presser block 21 being brought forcibly against the negative holder2. v

The gripping means carried by the presser block 21 embodies a springpressed plate 3T slidably carried by one side edge of the presser block21, and having an inturned tlange 3S overhanging the respective edgeportion of the block 21, suitable expansion springs 39 being disposedbetween the plate 3T and block 21 for yieldably moving the flange 3Saway from the block. T he gripping means also embodies i second plateel() extending slidably against the lower edge of the presser block 21,-and provided with an angularly extending flange '11 overhanging theblock. The plate yl-O has oblique or diagonal slots 42 through whichpins or guide elements -l-S are engaged. said pins being lixedly engagedto the block 21, whereby when the plate l() is slid longitudinally, itwill cause the flange L11 to move to and from the block 2O for grippingand releasing the sensitized paper. A coiled retractile spring e4connects the plate l0 and block 21 for normally carrying the plate Ll0in such a direction, as to move the flange 11 against the presser blockfor gripping the sensitized paper.

Ueans are provided for moving the plate Q0 against the tension of thespring all, when the holder for the sensitized paper is returned toinoperative or initial position, and to this end, a rock shaft 45 isjournaled to one side edge of the presser block 21, and is provided atone end with a crank arm 46 which is connected by a link 47 withthe-respective end of the plate 40, so that when the shaft is rocked,the plate 40 will be reciprocated. The other end of the shaft 45 has anangularly extending arm or tap pet 48 which is adapted to bear upon astop 49 carried by the base or frame 1, whereby when presser block 21 isswung back to initial position, as seen in full lines in Fig. 1, the arm48 in striking the stop 49 will cause the shaft 45 to be rotated in sucha direction, as to force the plate 20 against the tension of the spring44, and to thereby move the fiange 41 away from the block 21.

A spring catch 50 is carried by the base 1 to engage and hold the handle35 when the handle is depressed, whereby the presser block 21 may beheld against the negative holder 2 for any length of time, without thenecessity of the operator holding the handle 35 depressed. The catch 50may be readily released from the handle 35 to allow said handle to beraised after the sensitized paper has been exposed to the light rays forthe required time.

A lamp 51 is carried by the rear end of the base 1 for furnishing thelight rays, and means is employed for cutting off the light rays fromthe negative holder, during the time that the presser block 21 is swungaway from the negative holder for removing the exposed sensitized sheet,and while the new sensitized sheet is being inserted. Thus, anupstanding frame or standard 52 is carried by the base 1 in rear of theholder 2, or between said holder and lamp 51, and a swinging shutter 53is hinged to one side edge of the frame or standard 52. This shutter 53is preferably constructed of red glass, whereby when the shutter isclosed, it will allow the red rays to pass therethrough, in order thatthe operator may conveniently remove and replace the sensitized paperwithout exposing the same to the active rays of light.

As a means for automatically operating the shutter 53 when the presserhead is operated, a longitudinal rock shaft 54 is journaled upon thebase 1 adjacent one side edge thereof, and is provided at its rear endwith an angularly extending crank arm 55 which has its free endconnected by means of a link 56 to an angularly extending arm 57attached to the shutter 53, so that when the shaft 54 is rocked, it willswing the shutter 53 to open and closed positions. The shaft 54 isoperated by the handle 35, and to this end, the forward end of the shaft54 has an angularly extending arm or tappet 58 lying below the handle35, and arranged to be depressed when the handle 35 is depressed,

against the negative holder. Thus, the

21 starts to leave the negative holder 2. This provides for the accurateexposure of the sensitized paper, and avoids an over exposure.

Instead of providing the shutter 53, the lamp 51 may be controlled, sothat it is lighted and extinguished automatically. When the lamp 51 iscontrolled, the sameis preferably in the form of an electricincandescent lamp interposed in the electrical circuit 60, said circuithaving a push button switch 61 carried by the base 1 below the handle35, whereby when the said handle is f depressed, the switch 61 will beclosed thereby to close the circuit and light the lamp 51 when thesensitized paper is brought against the negative holder. As soon as thehandle 35 is raised to return the presser block 21 to initial position,the switch 61 is released, to extinguish the lamp 51.

As above stated, either of the means for controlling the projection oflight rays through the negative may be employed, as

desired or necessary. The spring 59 not only serves to raise the arm 58for normally closing the shutter 53, but also serves to raise the handle35 from its depressed p0- sition, in order that when the catch 50 isreleased, the spring 59 will immediately raise the lever or handle 35 aswell as shutting the shutter 53. The handle or actuating member 35 notonly controls the movements of vthe presser block or sensitized paperholder but also controls the shutter 53 or lamp 51.

In operation, supposing the negative from which the prints are desired,is properly applied to the holder' 2, as above indicated, by raising thehandle 35, the leaf 20 is swung downwardly and forwardly to carry thepresser block 21 to such a position, as seen in full lines in Fig. 2,that the. exposed sheet may be readily moved and replaced by a new one.The flange 38 of the plate 37 is normally moved away from the block 21under the influence of the springs 39, and the arm 48 of the shaft 45 inbearing upon the stop 49 will move the flange 41 away from the block 21,so that when the presser block 21 is returned to initial position theexposed sheet may be readily removed, and the new sheet may be readilyplaced upon the presser block under the flangesor jaws 38 and 41. Duringthe time that the sensitized paper or sheet is being removed orreplaced, the shutter 53 is closed, or the lamp 5l is extinguished, toavoid the undesired exposure of the sensitized paper. Then, when thehandle 35 is depressed for bringing the sensitized sheet against thenegative holder, as soon as the presser block 2l starts upwardly, thearm i8 will leave the stop 49, and this will immediately bring thespring 44 into play for moving the flange il toward the block 2l toclamp the sensitized sheet. The sheet is thus held securely upon theblock Q1, while the block is being moved against the negative holder,and this prevents the centrifugal action from throwing the sensitizedsheet out of position. the presser block 2l is brought against thenegative holder, the flange 33 will be moved toward the block 21 to alsoclamp and hold the sensitized sheet securely in position against thepresser block 2l. It is preferable to face the presser block :2l withsoft rubber or equivalent yieldable material, in order that thesensitized sheet will be properly pressed against the mask and negative.It is to be noted, in this connection, that the presser block l isyieldably supported by the leaf Q0, in order that when the leaf Q0 isforcibly moved toward the negative holder 2, the block 2l may yieldrelatively to the leaf 20, to properly bear against the negative holder.The leaf 19 allows the leaf 20 to shift when the leaf 20 is swungupwardly, in order that the presser block may be properly broughtagainst the negative holder. The handle 35 is held depressed by thespring catch 50, and as soon as the sensitized sheet has been exposedthe required length of time, the catch is released, and the handle 35will be raised by the spring 59, it being understood, of course, thatwhen the handle 35 is depressed to bring the sensitized sheet againstthe negative holder, the lamp 51 is lighted, or the shutter 53 isopened, to allow the light rays to penetrate the negative for actingupon the sensitized sheet, so that when the catch 50 is released, thespring 59 not only raises the handle 35, but also closes the shutter 53,or allows the switch 61 to open for extinguishing the lamp 51.

From the foregoing, taken in connection with the drawings, it isbelieved that the advantages and attributes of the present apparatuswill be obvious to those versed in the art, without further commentbeing necessary.

The shutter 53 is preferably constructed of some unbreakable material,such, as fabric or Celluloid, and is of the proper density to permit ofthe penetration therethrough of enough non-actinie light rays to allowthe operator to judge the density of the negative in order to determinethe amount of time the sensitized paper should be exposed.

lVhen Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

l. In a printing apparatus, a base, an upstanding negative holdercarried thereby, a leaf hinged upon the base adjacent said holder, asecond leaf hinged upon the first mentioned leaf, a presser blockyieldably carried by the second leaf to bear against the negative holderand having sensitized ia )er holdin@ means, and means for swinfrfholder, a member movable to and from said holder, a. plate having stemsslidable through said member, spring means between said plate andmember, stops carried by the stems to bear against said member forlimiting the movement of said plate away from said member, said memberhaving guides, a presser block having flanges fitting in said guides,means for holding said flanges within said guides, and means for movingsaid member to and from the negative holder, to bring the presser blockagainst and away from the negative holder.

el. In a printing apparatus` a presser block, a plate assembledtherewith. one of said parts having oblique slots and the other havingelements working in said slots, the plate having a flange movable to andfrom the block, a spring connecting the plate and block for moving saidflange toward the block, a negative holder to and from which the presserblock is mo able, a rock shaft carried by the block and having a pair ofarms, a link connecting one of said arms and plate, and a stop againstwhich the other arm is arranged to strike when the block is moved awayfrom the negative holder, so that said plate is moved against thetension of the spring to move the flange away from the block.

5. In a printing apparatus, a presser block, a plate assembled therewithhaving a flange, one of said parts having oblique slots and the otherhaving elements worl'- ing in said slots whereby when the plate is movedlongitudinally its flange is moved toward or away from the-block, aspring connected to said plate for moving said flange longitudinally andtoward said block, a. negative holder to and from which the presserblock is movable, and means whereby when the presser block is moved awayfrom the negative holder' to initial position, the said plate is movedto move said flange away from the presser block.

6. In a printing apparatus, a negative holder having an opening, a pairof resilient strips resting against said holder and having freeterminals bearing against the holder at opposite sides of said openinfor holding a film negative against saiil holder across said opening, asecond pair of resilient strips resting against the aforesaid strips andhaving free terminals to bear against the aforesaid free terminals,

a mask to be held between the free terminals of the two pairs of stripand having a restricted opening, members engaged through said strips andholder, and springs between said holder and members tending to hold saidstrips against the holder.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixedmy signature in the presenceof two witnesses.

MONTE WELSH.

Witnesses:

J. T. DABNEY, C. J. SMITH.

Copies o! thin patent may be obtained for nve cents each, by addressingthe "Gommlnioner ol Pixeln.

Washington, D. C."

